Saṃyutta Nikāya
5. Mahā-Vagga
48. Indriya Saṃyutta
6. Sūkara-Khata Vagga
The Book of the Kindred Sayings
5. The Great Chapter
48. Kindred Sayings on the Faculties
6. Untitled
Sutta 53
Sekha Suttaṃ
Learner
Translated by F. L. Woodward
Edited by Mrs. Rhys Davids
Copyright The Pali Text Society
Commercial Rights Reserved
For details see Terms of Use.
On a certain occasion the Exalted One was staying at Kosambī
in Ghosita Park.
Then the Exalted One addressed the monks,
saying:
"Monks."
"Yes, lord," replied those monks to the Exalted One.
The Exalted One said:
"Tell me, monks,
is there any method
by proceeding according to which
a monk who is a learner,[1]
standing at the level of a learner,[2]
can be assured:
'I am a learner,'
or a monk who is an adept,
standing at the level of an adept,
can be assured:
'I am an adept'?"
■
"For us, lord,
things have the Exalted one as their root,
their guide,
their resort.
It were well for us
if the Exalted One would reveal the meaning
of what he has just uttered.
Hearing it from him
the brethren will remember it."
■
"Well, monks, there is such a method
by proceeding according to which
a monk who is a learner,
standing at the level of a learner,
can be assured:
'I am a learner,'
and a monk who is an adept,
standing at the level of an adept,
can be assured:
'I am an adept.'
And of what sort is that method, monks?
§
Herein a monk who is a learner
knows full well
'This is [205] Ill.'
He knows full well
'This is the arising of Ill.'
He knows full well
'This is the ceasing of ill.'
He knows full well
'This is the practice leading to the ceasing of ill.'
Such, monks, is the method
by proceeding according to which
a monk who is a learner,
standing at the level of a learner,
can be assured:
'I am a learner,'
■
Again, a monk who is a learner
thus ponders:
'Is there, I wonder,
outside[3] (this Order of monks)
anyone,
whether recluse or brahmin,
who can teach a doctrine
that is natural,
true
and proper,[4]
such as the Exalted One teaches?'
Then he concludes:
'There is no one
outside (this Order of monks)
whether recluse or brahmin,
who can teach a doctrine
that is natural,
true
and proper,
such as the Exalted One teaches.'
This, monks, is the method
by proceeding according to which
a monk who is a learner,
standing at the level of a learner,
can be assured:
'I am a learner,'
■
Then again, monks,
the monk who is a learner
is fully aware of the five controlling faculties:
The controlling faculty of faith,
the controlling faculty of energy,
the controlling faculty of mindfulness,
the controlling faculty of concentration,
the controlling faculty of insight.
But as to what is their destiny,
what their excellence,
what their fruits
and final goal,
he dwells not in personal experience[5] thereof,
nor does he pierce through and through by insigbt
and see them plain.
That is the method
by proceeding according to which
a monk who is a learner,
standing at the level of a learner,
can be assured:
'I am a learner,'
§
And of what sort, monks, is the method
according to which the adept monk
standing at the level of an adept
can be assured:
'I am an adept'?
Herein the adept monk
fully understands the five controlling faculties:
The controlling faculty of faith,
the controlling faculty of energy,
the controlling faculty of mindfulness,
the controlling faculty of concentration,
the controlling faculty of insight.
Likewise as to what is their destiny,
what their excellence,
their fruits
and final goal,
he dwells in personal experience thereof:
he pierces them through and through and sees them plain.
That, monks, is the method by which an adept monk
standing at the level of an adept
can be assured:
'I am an adept.'
■
[206] Then again, a monk who is an adept
fully understands the six sense-faculties,
to wit:
The sense-facuity of eye,
the sense-facuity of ear,
the sense-facuity of nose,
the sense-facuity of tongue,
the sense-facuity of body
the sense-facuity of mind.
He understands:
'These six sense-faculties
must come to cease without remainder,
utterly,
altogether,
in every way
and everywhere:
nor shall other six sense-faculties arise
anywhere
or anyhow.[6]
He knows that full well.
Such, monks is the method by which an adept monk
standing at the level of an adept
can be assured:
'I am an adept.'
[1] For definition see text, supra 14.
[2] Sekha-bhūmiyaṇ ṭhito.
[3] Ito bahiddhā. Cf. M. i, 56; D. ii, 151 (ito bahiddhā samaṇo pi n'atthi).
[4] Text bhūtaṇ, tacchaṇ, tathā (read v.l. tathaṇ). Cf. D. i, 190, api ca Samaṇo Gotamo bhūtaṇ tacchaṇ tathaṇ paṭipadaṇ paññāpeti.
[5] As above, text p. 226. Kāyena = nāma-kāyena, Comy. adds paṭilabhitvā to phusitvā of text.
[6] Kuhiñci kismiñci are synonyms. Comy.
